Geological considerations of mass movement in the La Merced neighborhood of Guaranda, Bolívar province, Ecuador

Abstract

In recent years, the city of Guaranda has been affected by phenomena derived from active geological processes, such as the sinking of Plaza Roja and the landslide in the Fausto Basantes neighborhood. Both the subduction process and the effects of local geological faults cause stress on the coverage and geological formations of the Guaranda region, resulting in gradual mass movements that are imperceptible in the short term but that can cause permanent damage and instability in the medium and long term.

Likewise, anthropic factors combined with natural phenomena such as heavy rains and/or earthquakes increase the susceptibility of the sector to mass movements. The purpose of this research is to define the factors that condition and trigger mass movement and formulate technical proposals that help confront the problem; analyze, manage and mitigate variables to avoid new events.

This paper shows a geological analysis and interpretation of the conditioning and detonating factors that led to the landslide in the La Merced neighborhood of the city of Guaranda, province of Bolívar - Ecuador.